FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

This is from a September post before the game with King's College:

Given how veteran of a team that Kings is vs. a DelVal team that lost 4 All-Americans + 3 non-All-Americans on defense, a WR core that lost 5 of their top 6 from last year, as well as RB #2, HB #1, TE #1.........QB #3 (only 3 QB's in the entire program) is playing as TE #1 (meaning they have no TE), plus no punting or kicking game.................King's has zero excuses, literally zero.

This is the year for a few teams to knock off the Aggies given what they bring back next year, a few critical returnees ineligible this Fall and reloading with freshmen and transfers knowing what they need in 2024 and beyond.

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

The King's players are chirping already. Never a good thing, but this might just be their one, best shot!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all of the losses from 2022 mentioned above, the Aggies lost who might have been an All-East Region RB (Jay White) in Game 4, their first team All-Conference LT (Justin Roman) in Game 6 in addition to some depth pieces, to an already young and very thin roster. There were very few seniors walking on Senior Day and half of those sound like they are coming back. 5 of them have 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

When you mentioned that Union is very senior laden, that was the final straw for me as the Aggies are the polar opposite (except at LB). The Aggies have a poor pass game and the run game would have been insane had White not gotten hurt and he was part of a two headed monster with Jack Fallon (bench presses 485 and looks it........a short Mike Alstadt). You can put 8 in the box and blow that up. Also, you can throw against the Aggies all day long. It is the weakest secondary (Safeties and CB's) in their 20 year run.

This was the year for the senior laden MAC teams to end this run. The Aggies bring back the motherlode next year, including their top 2 WR's from 2021 & 2022, who sat it out this year. Jay White will be back at RB with Fallon. The OL graduates just 1 and the weight room coach is fanatical. The staff knows what they need in the offseason, for 2024 and beyond, and will get there with key freshmen and impact transfers.

I would be stunned if Union doesn't win this by 17-21 points. This was a bonus year for DelVal. They got the 6th consecutive undefeated MAC Championship and took the conference winning streak to 53. I can see them taking it to 62 at the end of next season if everybody is back healthy and coach fills in some holes from the inside and outside.

The success (conference) this year stunned many on the inside given the 4th and 5th year players at key positions at a few of the other MAC schools (and the Aggies barely survived against 2 of them) and at this point, there is a real "house money" feel to this season. A complete opposite from the 2022 season.

I was going to go Union 31-13 but since the Aggies have only 1 FG all season..........I'll go........wait a minute, the missed extra point still makes it 31-13.

The recruiting is in full force for 2024 and they'll have a ton of them at Saturday's game. A thrashing won't diminish anything as the coaches have been honest about this season with the recruits and the better one's see the opportunity to plug some holes and start for 3-4 years.

But let's be honest.................we're all waiting for the inevitable Mount Union vs. North Central (although they got the shaft) championship rematch anyway!!

[jmcozenlaw]

PBR - You had me waxing nostalgic about board action from the past (and I do remember dlip). The Aggies conference dominance has chased everybody away from here. Simba was all over the board when Lycoming was decent. Bman was a Widener regular. Bill from FDU. A few of the Wilkes guys (Colonel John). Even a few Wesley guys (who lived in the PA suburbs) like Wesleydad were semi-regulars. They are all gone. It's pretty much down to me and kate........with a splash of PBR.

I can't do the NESCAC board. There is only so much "SAT score" and "my son is at Goldman Sachs" conversation that I can take..........on a football board. Besides, many of the top clients in my book of business slummed it at PA State Schools so that stuff has always rung a bit hollow to me. I love foxhole guys........not those who can figure out a way to avoid that at all costs. Collars NEVER were meant to be worn up and lobsters should never be on shorts worn by grown men!!

I miss the good old days. With what is going on in the world (and being a man of faith), I'm glad to be on the back nine.

[Ice Bear]

This is from a September post before the game with King's College:

Given how veteran of a team that Kings is vs. a DelVal team that lost 4 All-Americans + 3 non-All-Americans on defense, a WR core that lost 5 of their top 6 from last year, as well as RB #2, HB #1, TE #1.........QB #3 (only 3 QB's in the entire program) is playing as TE #1 (meaning they have no TE), plus no punting or kicking game.................King's has zero excuses, literally zero.

This is the year for a few teams to knock off the Aggies given what they bring back next year, a few critical returnees ineligible this Fall and reloading with freshmen and transfers knowing what they need in 2024 and beyond.

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

The King's players are chirping already. Never a good thing, but this might just be their one, best shot!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all of the losses from 2022 mentioned above, the Aggies lost who might have been an All-East Region RB (Jay White) in Game 4, their first team All-Conference LT (Justin Roman) in Game 6 in addition to some depth pieces, to an already young and very thin roster. There were very few seniors walking on Senior Day and half of those sound like they are coming back. 5 of them have 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

When you mentioned that Union is very senior laden, that was the final straw for me as the Aggies are the polar opposite (except at LB). The Aggies have a poor pass game and the run game would have been insane had White not gotten hurt and he was part of a two headed monster with Jack Fallon (bench presses 485 and looks it........a short Mike Alstadt). You can put 8 in the box and blow that up. Also, you can throw against the Aggies all day long. It is the weakest secondary (Safeties and CB's) in their 20 year run.

This was the year for the senior laden MAC teams to end this run. The Aggies bring back the motherlode next year, including their top 2 WR's from 2021 & 2022, who sat it out this year. Jay White will be back at RB with Fallon. The OL graduates just 1 and the weight room coach is fanatical. The staff knows what they need in the offseason, for 2024 and beyond, and will get there with key freshmen and impact transfers.

I would be stunned if Union doesn't win this by 17-21 points. This was a bonus year for DelVal. They got the 6th consecutive undefeated MAC Championship and took the conference winning streak to 53. I can see them taking it to 62 at the end of next season if everybody is back healthy and coach fills in some holes from the inside and outside.

The success (conference) this year stunned many on the inside given the 4th and 5th year players at key positions at a few of the other MAC schools (and the Aggies barely survived against 2 of them) and at this point, there is a real "house money" feel to this season. A complete opposite from the 2022 season.

I was going to go Union 31-13 but since the Aggies have only 1 FG all season..........I'll go........wait a minute, the missed extra point still makes it 31-13.

The recruiting is in full force for 2024 and they'll have a ton of them at Saturday's game. A thrashing won't diminish anything as the coaches have been honest about this season with the recruits and the better one's see the opportunity to plug some holes and start for 3-4 years.

But let's be honest.................we're all waiting for the inevitable Mount Union vs. North Central (although they got the shaft) championship rematch anyway!!

Thank you very much for this insight jm! I really do appreciate it. +k

[PBR...]

PBR - You had me waxing nostalgic about board action from the past (and I do remember dlip). The Aggies conference dominance has chased everybody away from here. Simba was all over the board when Lycoming was decent. Bman was a Widener regular. Bill from FDU. A few of the Wilkes guys (Colonel John). Even a few Wesley guys (who lived in the PA suburbs) like Wesleydad were semi-regulars. They are all gone. It's pretty much down to me and kate........with a splash of PBR.

I can't do the NESCAC board. There is only so much "SAT score" and "my son is at Goldman Sachs" conversation that I can take..........on a football board. Besides, many of the top clients in my book of business slummed it at PA State Schools so that stuff has always rung a bit hollow to me. I love foxhole guys........not those who can figure out a way to avoid that at all costs. Collars NEVER were meant to be worn up and lobsters should never be on shorts worn by grown men!!

I miss the good old days. With what is going on in the world (and being a man of faith), I'm glad to be on the back nine.

Was fun times back in the day. All sorts of discussions. Lots of DVU/Rowan, DVU/Lyco, DVU/Widener add in LL peeps with RPI/Union for da shoes....

[kate]

The Absolute Very Best of Luck tomorrow, Aggies in your game with Union - we'll be glued to the laptop!

[bill]

JM

Yep...I still lurk, but not much reason to post anymore. My dad retired as AD a few years back...and I have been in New England for 8 years now. I coach at the HS level up here, and do pay attention to the D3 ball up here - which is no where near as strong as the MAC/Centennial was.

Of course, I leave the NESCAC out of this claim...but since they only play each other, it's impossible to compare. I do know that if they WANTED to, a few NESCAC teams would be in the title hint every year...like they do in every other sport!

[jmcozenlaw]

JM

Yep...I still lurk, but not much reason to post anymore. My dad retired as AD a few years back...and I have been in New England for 8 years now. I coach at the HS level up here, and do pay attention to the D3 ball up here - which is no where near as strong as the MAC/Centennial was.

Of course, I leave the NESCAC out of this claim...but since they only play each other, it's impossible to compare. I do know that if they WANTED to, a few NESCAC teams would be in the title hint every year...like they do in every other sport!

Hey Bill! Are you in MA by any chance? I just had a buddy who moved up to Southern New Hampshire. Do you really think this year's Trinity or Middlebury football team would beat Mount Union or North Central? That's a tall order but you might be right. If Johns Hopkins, CMU and a couple dozen other schools can get involved in the NCAA Playoffs, there is zero excuse for the NESCAC. Maybe it changes someday.

Tough to see what has happened to the FDU Women's Hoops program over the last few years. I saw that he is no longer the coach up at St. Peter's. I wonder where he is now?

[bill]

JM,
I'm in RI. I haven't seen any of the NESCAC teams this year...but what I meant to say was if they put their resources behind "wanting to win", they would be competitive. There is no excuse for the NESCAC, just like there is no excuse for the Ivy's.

The FDU program did go in the tank...I've heard rumblings about how tough the school made it on the athletic department since my father retired. Heck, you know your department is in trouble when you leave (as the last AD did) to take a job at a high school!!!

Coach Marc left St. Peters...there must be a story there because they were starting to turn things around. I have not talked to him, but he is at University of Indianapolis - a Division II school.

[kate]

Congratulations to Union!   A hard-fought game for Del Val!   We lost 24 to 16 and it was closer than many of the D3 guru's predicted.   Good luck to Union next Saturday as they take on Johns Hopkins!   All of us Aggie fans will eagerly anticipate a fantastic winning season in 2024!   Thanks to the Seniors for some incredible memories and Best of luck in your futures whether or not it involves football or sports in general!   AGGIES!!!!!

[kate]

Sorry for the double post here, but a huge thank you to our Aggie announcer, Gordon Mann!   Another outstanding call of the game!

[jmcozenlaw]

I said it as the season started and I'll say it now that it's over...............losing 4 All-American's (one, the DPOY) plus 3 other defensive players from last year's national quarterfinal team, in addition to RB #2, HB #1, 5 out of their 6 top WR's, 3 out of 5 on the OL, TE #1 & #2 (QB #3 played TE #1 this year)........and then during the season losing RB #1 (possible All-Region, Jay White) and their best OL, All-Conference LT, Justin Roman, was way too much for an already thin roster.

There were a few very senior laden MAC teams that should have picked DelVal off and blew their chance. Next year will be more difficult to do so as DelVal returns 10 of 11 offensive starters, but more importantly, gets back RB #1A (Jay White) to form a two headed monster with RB #1B (Jack Fallon), All-Conference LT, Justin Roman and their top two WR's from 2022 and 2021, who sat out this season. The defense returns 7 starters, including the top 7 on the DL. Only 7 players in the program have exhausted all of their eligibility as of the end of this season.

The coaches know what they need in terms of the incoming freshmen and a few impact transfers. Depth is also decent in the program in the position or two that need it for 2024.

Thanks for a great season. I truly did not see it coming, especially with the reports coming out of camp and the key injuries at the halfway point. The conference is always the most important goal (there are only a small handful of teams who can truly win a natty each year........I'll take North Central and Mount Union.......anyone else can have the field) and you did it, wounded and not the typical DelVal team, for a 6th straight year.

Enjoy the turkey, come back for the 3 mornings per week workouts right after Thanksgiving, and work to grab that 7th straight undefeated conference championship and run the undefeated conference streak to 62.

Thanks for a great season..........now it's off to wrestling where Coach Taylor is well on his way to rebuilding the Aggies into the national power they were for almost 30 years before the train fell off the tracks for 5-6 years!!

[jmcozenlaw]

This is from a September post before the game with King's College:

Given how veteran of a team that Kings is vs. a DelVal team that lost 4 All-Americans + 3 non-All-Americans on defense, a WR core that lost 5 of their top 6 from last year, as well as RB #2, HB #1, TE #1.........QB #3 (only 3 QB's in the entire program) is playing as TE #1 (meaning they have no TE), plus no punting or kicking game.................King's has zero excuses, literally zero.

This is the year for a few teams to knock off the Aggies given what they bring back next year, a few critical returnees ineligible this Fall and reloading with freshmen and transfers knowing what they need in 2024 and beyond.

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

The King's players are chirping already. Never a good thing, but this might just be their one, best shot!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all of the losses from 2022 mentioned above, the Aggies lost who might have been an All-East Region RB (Jay White) in Game 4, their first team All-Conference LT (Justin Roman) in Game 6 in addition to some depth pieces, to an already young and very thin roster. There were very few seniors walking on Senior Day and half of those sound like they are coming back. 5 of them have 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

When you mentioned that Union is very senior laden, that was the final straw for me as the Aggies are the polar opposite (except at LB). The Aggies have a poor pass game and the run game would have been insane had White not gotten hurt and he was part of a two headed monster with Jack Fallon (bench presses 485 and looks it........a short Mike Alstadt). You can put 8 in the box and blow that up. Also, you can throw against the Aggies all day long. It is the weakest secondary (Safeties and CB's) in their 20 year run.

This was the year for the senior laden MAC teams to end this run. The Aggies bring back the motherlode next year, including their top 2 WR's from 2021 & 2022, who sat it out this year. Jay White will be back at RB with Fallon. The OL graduates just 1 and the weight room coach is fanatical. The staff knows what they need in the offseason, for 2024 and beyond, and will get there with key freshmen and impact transfers.

I would be stunned if Union doesn't win this by 17-21 points. This was a bonus year for DelVal. They got the 6th consecutive undefeated MAC Championship and took the conference winning streak to 53. I can see them taking it to 62 at the end of next season if everybody is back healthy and coach fills in some holes from the inside and outside.

The success (conference) this year stunned many on the inside given the 4th and 5th year players at key positions at a few of the other MAC schools (and the Aggies barely survived against 2 of them) and at this point, there is a real "house money" feel to this season. A complete opposite from the 2022 season.

I was going to go Union 31-13 but since the Aggies have only 1 FG all season..........I'll go........wait a minute, the missed extra point still makes it 31-13.

The recruiting is in full force for 2024 and they'll have a ton of them at Saturday's game. A thrashing won't diminish anything as the coaches have been honest about this season with the recruits and the better one's see the opportunity to plug some holes and start for 3-4 years.

But let's be honest.................we're all waiting for the inevitable Mount Union vs. North Central (although they got the shaft) championship rematch anyway!!

Thank you very much for this insight jm! I really do appreciate it. +k

No problem Ice!! In reading my comments a few times, I think I nailed it pretty decently (including the high school game analysis........and my beloved, quaint, Doylestown, which I hope some Union faithful got to/will get to enjoy). The Aggies were not only depleted from last year's national quarterfinal team but were both young and very flawed. Good luck against Hopkins. They are very beatable and like DelVal last year, not a super formidable #1 seed like a Mount Union or North Central.

[unionpalooza]

This is from a September post before the game with King's College:

Given how veteran of a team that Kings is vs. a DelVal team that lost 4 All-Americans + 3 non-All-Americans on defense, a WR core that lost 5 of their top 6 from last year, as well as RB #2, HB #1, TE #1.........QB #3 (only 3 QB's in the entire program) is playing as TE #1 (meaning they have no TE), plus no punting or kicking game.................King's has zero excuses, literally zero.

This is the year for a few teams to knock off the Aggies given what they bring back next year, a few critical returnees ineligible this Fall and reloading with freshmen and transfers knowing what they need in 2024 and beyond.

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

The King's players are chirping already. Never a good thing, but this might just be their one, best shot!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all of the losses from 2022 mentioned above, the Aggies lost who might have been an All-East Region RB (Jay White) in Game 4, their first team All-Conference LT (Justin Roman) in Game 6 in addition to some depth pieces, to an already young and very thin roster. There were very few seniors walking on Senior Day and half of those sound like they are coming back. 5 of them have 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

When you mentioned that Union is very senior laden, that was the final straw for me as the Aggies are the polar opposite (except at LB). The Aggies have a poor pass game and the run game would have been insane had White not gotten hurt and he was part of a two headed monster with Jack Fallon (bench presses 485 and looks it........a short Mike Alstadt). You can put 8 in the box and blow that up. Also, you can throw against the Aggies all day long. It is the weakest secondary (Safeties and CB's) in their 20 year run.

This was the year for the senior laden MAC teams to end this run. The Aggies bring back the motherlode next year, including their top 2 WR's from 2021 & 2022, who sat it out this year. Jay White will be back at RB with Fallon. The OL graduates just 1 and the weight room coach is fanatical. The staff knows what they need in the offseason, for 2024 and beyond, and will get there with key freshmen and impact transfers.

I would be stunned if Union doesn't win this by 17-21 points. This was a bonus year for DelVal. They got the 6th consecutive undefeated MAC Championship and took the conference winning streak to 53. I can see them taking it to 62 at the end of next season if everybody is back healthy and coach fills in some holes from the inside and outside.

The success (conference) this year stunned many on the inside given the 4th and 5th year players at key positions at a few of the other MAC schools (and the Aggies barely survived against 2 of them) and at this point, there is a real "house money" feel to this season. A complete opposite from the 2022 season.

I was going to go Union 31-13 but since the Aggies have only 1 FG all season..........I'll go........wait a minute, the missed extra point still makes it 31-13.

The recruiting is in full force for 2024 and they'll have a ton of them at Saturday's game. A thrashing won't diminish anything as the coaches have been honest about this season with the recruits and the better one's see the opportunity to plug some holes and start for 3-4 years.

But let's be honest.................we're all waiting for the inevitable Mount Union vs. North Central (although they got the shaft) championship rematch anyway!!

Thank you very much for this insight jm! I really do appreciate it. +k

No problem Ice!! In reading my comments a few times, I think I nailed it pretty decently (including the high school game analysis........and my beloved, quaint, Doylestown, which I hope some Union faithful got to/will get to enjoy). The Aggies were not only depleted from last year's national quarterfinal team but were both young and very flawed. Good luck against Hopkins. They are very beatable and like DelVal last year, not a super formidable #1 seed like a Mount Union or North Central.

jmcozen, many thanks for your DVU and Doylestown previews, and I think you've had a precise bead on your Aggies from the preseason; they looked just as you described.  I think they are going to be formidable in the next few years as they get experience and fill a few holes.  I loved the area and the campus - just a great, friendly place.

I was hoping my Dutchmen would have turned over the ball less often and scored a few more points to save my fourth quarter nerves.  They'll need to clean that up if they want to take down Hopkins next weekend.   

[jmcozenlaw]

This is from a September post before the game with King's College:

Given how veteran of a team that Kings is vs. a DelVal team that lost 4 All-Americans + 3 non-All-Americans on defense, a WR core that lost 5 of their top 6 from last year, as well as RB #2, HB #1, TE #1.........QB #3 (only 3 QB's in the entire program) is playing as TE #1 (meaning they have no TE), plus no punting or kicking game.................King's has zero excuses, literally zero.

This is the year for a few teams to knock off the Aggies given what they bring back next year, a few critical returnees ineligible this Fall and reloading with freshmen and transfers knowing what they need in 2024 and beyond.

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

The King's players are chirping already. Never a good thing, but this might just be their one, best shot!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all of the losses from 2022 mentioned above, the Aggies lost who might have been an All-East Region RB (Jay White) in Game 4, their first team All-Conference LT (Justin Roman) in Game 6 in addition to some depth pieces, to an already young and very thin roster. There were very few seniors walking on Senior Day and half of those sound like they are coming back. 5 of them have 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

When you mentioned that Union is very senior laden, that was the final straw for me as the Aggies are the polar opposite (except at LB). The Aggies have a poor pass game and the run game would have been insane had White not gotten hurt and he was part of a two headed monster with Jack Fallon (bench presses 485 and looks it........a short Mike Alstadt). You can put 8 in the box and blow that up. Also, you can throw against the Aggies all day long. It is the weakest secondary (Safeties and CB's) in their 20 year run.

This was the year for the senior laden MAC teams to end this run. The Aggies bring back the motherlode next year, including their top 2 WR's from 2021 & 2022, who sat it out this year. Jay White will be back at RB with Fallon. The OL graduates just 1 and the weight room coach is fanatical. The staff knows what they need in the offseason, for 2024 and beyond, and will get there with key freshmen and impact transfers.

I would be stunned if Union doesn't win this by 17-21 points. This was a bonus year for DelVal. They got the 6th consecutive undefeated MAC Championship and took the conference winning streak to 53. I can see them taking it to 62 at the end of next season if everybody is back healthy and coach fills in some holes from the inside and outside.

The success (conference) this year stunned many on the inside given the 4th and 5th year players at key positions at a few of the other MAC schools (and the Aggies barely survived against 2 of them) and at this point, there is a real "house money" feel to this season. A complete opposite from the 2022 season.

I was going to go Union 31-13 but since the Aggies have only 1 FG all season..........I'll go........wait a minute, the missed extra point still makes it 31-13.

The recruiting is in full force for 2024 and they'll have a ton of them at Saturday's game. A thrashing won't diminish anything as the coaches have been honest about this season with the recruits and the better one's see the opportunity to plug some holes and start for 3-4 years.

But let's be honest.................we're all waiting for the inevitable Mount Union vs. North Central (although they got the shaft) championship rematch anyway!!

Thank you very much for this insight jm! I really do appreciate it. +k

No problem Ice!! In reading my comments a few times, I think I nailed it pretty decently (including the high school game analysis........and my beloved, quaint, Doylestown, which I hope some Union faithful got to/will get to enjoy). The Aggies were not only depleted from last year's national quarterfinal team but were both young and very flawed. Good luck against Hopkins. They are very beatable and like DelVal last year, not a super formidable #1 seed like a Mount Union or North Central.

jmcozen, many thanks for your DVU and Doylestown previews, and I think you've had a precise bead on your Aggies from the preseason; they looked just as you described.  I think they are going to be formidable in the next few years as they get experience and fill a few holes.  I loved the area and the campus - just a great, friendly place.

I was hoping my Dutchmen would have turned over the ball less often and scored a few more points to save my fourth quarter nerves.  They'll need to clean that up if they want to take down Hopkins next weekend.

You are quite welcome UP!! I'm glad you enjoyed the area. I'm actually a Swarthmore alum (undergrad) who adopted DelVal when I moved to and decided to settle in Doylestown (and when the uber libs screamed until Swarthmore dropped their football program........it still pains me).

Best of luck next week against Hopkins. If you can cut out the turnovers, I think that you will be in the game.

Quick question though for you. I was a bit surprised that DelVal had decent success in the running game with Union knowing the DelVal had no passing game. Were you at all surprised? I know that Union was big, veteran and tough to run against all year. Our little (height, not muscles) Mike Alstadt will be joined again by our RB #1 next season (goes about 215-220 and is very fast) to form a thunder and lightning pairing. Our QB is a heck or a runner as well........losing 5 of the 6 top WR's (2 of them were last minute decisions, money) hurt him as well as erratic play!!

[unionpalooza]

This is from a September post before the game with King's College:

Given how veteran of a team that Kings is vs. a DelVal team that lost 4 All-Americans + 3 non-All-Americans on defense, a WR core that lost 5 of their top 6 from last year, as well as RB #2, HB #1, TE #1.........QB #3 (only 3 QB's in the entire program) is playing as TE #1 (meaning they have no TE), plus no punting or kicking game.................King's has zero excuses, literally zero.

This is the year for a few teams to knock off the Aggies given what they bring back next year, a few critical returnees ineligible this Fall and reloading with freshmen and transfers knowing what they need in 2024 and beyond.

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

The King's players are chirping already. Never a good thing, but this might just be their one, best shot!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all of the losses from 2022 mentioned above, the Aggies lost who might have been an All-East Region RB (Jay White) in Game 4, their first team All-Conference LT (Justin Roman) in Game 6 in addition to some depth pieces, to an already young and very thin roster. There were very few seniors walking on Senior Day and half of those sound like they are coming back. 5 of them have 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

When you mentioned that Union is very senior laden, that was the final straw for me as the Aggies are the polar opposite (except at LB). The Aggies have a poor pass game and the run game would have been insane had White not gotten hurt and he was part of a two headed monster with Jack Fallon (bench presses 485 and looks it........a short Mike Alstadt). You can put 8 in the box and blow that up. Also, you can throw against the Aggies all day long. It is the weakest secondary (Safeties and CB's) in their 20 year run.

This was the year for the senior laden MAC teams to end this run. The Aggies bring back the motherlode next year, including their top 2 WR's from 2021 & 2022, who sat it out this year. Jay White will be back at RB with Fallon. The OL graduates just 1 and the weight room coach is fanatical. The staff knows what they need in the offseason, for 2024 and beyond, and will get there with key freshmen and impact transfers.

I would be stunned if Union doesn't win this by 17-21 points. This was a bonus year for DelVal. They got the 6th consecutive undefeated MAC Championship and took the conference winning streak to 53. I can see them taking it to 62 at the end of next season if everybody is back healthy and coach fills in some holes from the inside and outside.

The success (conference) this year stunned many on the inside given the 4th and 5th year players at key positions at a few of the other MAC schools (and the Aggies barely survived against 2 of them) and at this point, there is a real "house money" feel to this season. A complete opposite from the 2022 season.

I was going to go Union 31-13 but since the Aggies have only 1 FG all season..........I'll go........wait a minute, the missed extra point still makes it 31-13.

The recruiting is in full force for 2024 and they'll have a ton of them at Saturday's game. A thrashing won't diminish anything as the coaches have been honest about this season with the recruits and the better one's see the opportunity to plug some holes and start for 3-4 years.

But let's be honest.................we're all waiting for the inevitable Mount Union vs. North Central (although they got the shaft) championship rematch anyway!!

Thank you very much for this insight jm! I really do appreciate it. +k

No problem Ice!! In reading my comments a few times, I think I nailed it pretty decently (including the high school game analysis........and my beloved, quaint, Doylestown, which I hope some Union faithful got to/will get to enjoy). The Aggies were not only depleted from last year's national quarterfinal team but were both young and very flawed. Good luck against Hopkins. They are very beatable and like DelVal last year, not a super formidable #1 seed like a Mount Union or North Central.

jmcozen, many thanks for your DVU and Doylestown previews, and I think you've had a precise bead on your Aggies from the preseason; they looked just as you described.  I think they are going to be formidable in the next few years as they get experience and fill a few holes.  I loved the area and the campus - just a great, friendly place.

I was hoping my Dutchmen would have turned over the ball less often and scored a few more points to save my fourth quarter nerves.  They'll need to clean that up if they want to take down Hopkins next weekend.

You are quite welcome UP!! I'm glad you enjoyed the area. I'm actually a Swarthmore alum (undergrad) who adopted DelVal when I moved to and decided to settle in Doylestown (and when the uber libs screamed until Swarthmore dropped their football program........it still pains me).

Best of luck next week against Hopkins. If you can cut out the turnovers, I think that you will be in the game.

Quick question though for you. I was a bit surprised that DelVal had decent success in the running game with Union knowing the DelVal had no passing game. Were you at all surprised? I know that Union was big, veteran and tough to run against all year. Our little (height, not muscles) Mike Alstadt will be joined again by our RB #1 next season (goes about 215-220 and is very fast) to form a thunder and lightning pairing. Our QB is a heck or a runner as well........losing 5 of the 6 top WR's (2 of them were last minute decisions, money) hurt him as well as erratic play!!

jmc, I wasn't too surprised.  Union plays a very bend by don't break style of defense, and often will put only six guys in the box, trusting their front four to keep things in front of them, and taking pressure off the secondary where they've been susceptible to getting beat over the top.  That's how they played Saturday, and my sense is that the game plan was to avoid giving up big plays and trust that over the course of a drive, they could make enough plays to get off the field.  (Which they mostly did.)

I think if DVU has stuck with the run more, they probably would have adapted and put another guy in the box. I was frankly perplexed that DVU went five wide so often, which played into out D's hands by allowing to get pressure with four and get the QB out of the pocket where he wasn't very accurate; I think they would have been better off just pounding the ball.  I thought Barrios looked pretty good - a nifty runner, and he threw some good balls, too.   WR seemed to me like the weakest link (two dropped TDS), but I'm sure they'll fill those holes quickly.

All in all, a very weird game.  If Union had scored rather than turned over a few of those balls in the red zone, it would have been a very lopsided score.  On the other hand, given the way things went, if DVU doesn't drop those passes in the end zone and mis-coach the end of the first half, they absolutely could have won.

Speaking of, can we talk about the fake kneel down at the end of the first half?  I'm of two minds.  I mean, it was certainly clever (although it ultimately blew up in their face and cost them the game).  But it's also kind of a garbage play; typically defenses honor that formation and don't blow up the line of scrimmage.  People start running that kind of trick play and kids are going to get hurt on meaningless plays at the end of games.  Can't quite decide if I love it or hate it.